Seeing O'Hare International Airport from a plane
Photo: NASA Johnson Space Center, Public domain via Wikimedia Commons
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One of the world's busiest airports, rebuilt over two decades so most of its eight runways run parallel east-west. Look for the long parallel strips with the terminal fingers in the middle and the Kennedy Expressway running straight in from downtown.
13 of our routes pass it. Illinois
The easy pick
Chicago to Norfolk: sit on the left, on the climb, 2 min after takeoff.
Which side, by route
| Route | Side | When |
|---|---|---|
| Charlotte to Chicago | Left | on the way down |
| Chicago to Norfolk | Left | on the climb, 2 min after takeoff |
| Chicago to Las Vegas | Right | on the climb, 4 min after takeoff |
| Chicago to Milwaukee | Right (the left side is better for the whole flight) | on the climb, 6 min after takeoff |
| Chicago to Minneapolis | Left | on the climb, 6 min after takeoff |
| Dallas-Fort Worth to Chicago | Left (the right side is better for the whole flight) | on the way down |
| Houston to Milwaukee | Right | 103 min after takeoff |
| Kansas City to Milwaukee | Right (the left side is better for the whole flight) | 45 min after takeoff |
| Miami to Chicago | Left (the right side is better for the whole flight) | on the way down |
| Minneapolis to Fort Wayne | Right | 43 min after takeoff |
| San Francisco to Chicago | Left | on the way down |
| Seattle to Chicago | Left (the right side is better for the whole flight) | on the way down |
| St. Louis to Milwaukee | Right (the left side is better for the whole flight) | 35 min after takeoff |
From the real paths of every nonstop on these routes in the last 10 days, at the usual time of day. Where the best seat for the whole flight is on the other side, you'd trade this sight for more elsewhere.
Questions
Which side of the plane do you see O'Hare International Airport from?
It depends on the direction: the left on most of our routes (7 of 13). The table lists each route's side.
When can you see O'Hare International Airport from a plane?
Near the airport, on the climb or on the way down, and mid-flight on longer routes: see the table for each route.
Can you see O'Hare International Airport at night?
Yes, by its lights. The app scores lit places at night by how bright they are.
Do clouds matter?
Yes. These answers assume a clear day. Within 3 days of your flight, pick your exact flight in the app for the cloud forecast.
More
Northwestern University Wrigley Field Bahá'í House of Worship United Center Chicago Midway International Airport Charlotte (CLT) Chicago (MDW) Las Vegas (LAS) Minneapolis (MSP) All routes